Hello,
I consistently play Shikenbisha with a Mino or High Mino castle. I love this opening but it is very defensive, which makes it difficult for me to start attacking. Do any Shikenbisha players have advice on how to defend against the opponent's attack, which is usually faster, while also finding your own way to attack? Also, is anyone interested in playing a game to test out our ideas about this? Thanks!
4th File Rook (Shikenbisha) Strategy
Hello, Kuroneko
fellow 4th file rook enjoyer here; though I am not very strong player. I'm sorry that my input will be limited
you have raised some good questions:
being able to survive an attack (especially a quick one), as well as finding your own path to victory.
achieving balance in game regardless of opening used can be quite a challenge (from my experience)
is it ok if I ask: why is Shikenbisha your choice of opening?
Hello Papermask,
I'm happy to see that you also enjoy Shikenbisha! For me, I prefer ranging rook over static rook mainly because I don't like left-sided castles. I feel that it is awkward to move the bishop out of the way. I specifically like Shikenbisha because of how the rook and bishop both protect the 66 square. I've tried Central Rook and 3rd File Rook but I feel most comfortable with Shikenbisha. What about you?
>the rook and bishop both protect the 66 square
therein lies the reason why 4th file rook is so defensive
for you to attack from the 4th file you need to push the 66 pawn, which exposes your bishop to the diagonal for an exchange
as most 4th file rook players like to build their castle before attacking, your opponent probably has a better attacking setup while you were building your castle, and the bishop exchange is likely not in your favor
on top of having to guard the 86 square from a static rook push, your own rook is blocking the way at 68, and the bishop becomes very passive as a result
compare with 3rd file ishida, where the bishop is allowed to step down to 68 and probe other diagonals from there
4th file is pretty comfy overall but it's just inherently not a very attacky strat, unless you open the diagonal early and catch the opponent off guard
Thanks for your insight, hakuwi! You made several observations that describe the exact problems I face while playing this opening. I agree that the setup in Shikenbisha is naturally very difficult to launch an attack from. Usually when I play, I do not attempt to go for an attack until move 30-50, once I've set up a strong defense against my opponent's attack and exchanged a few minor pieces. My problem is that the stronger opponents I face are usually able to keep applying pressure until my defense breaks, and I'm forced to permanently defend without ever getting a chance to attack. Whenever I do a post-game analysis with the computer, I find that there are ways that I could have interrupted my opponent's attack, gained pieces, and launched a fast counterattack using piece drops. For me, finding these counterattacking moves does not come naturally, so I was wondering if anyone had tips on how to do so.
well, finding counterattacks instead of going with the flow of whatever's happening at the moment is a general issue for everyone, not just 4th file rook users haha
i guess what helps for me is when i spectate people better than me, i compare what i would have done as my next move with the player's actual next move, and if they're different, to find out the reason behind it
Fair point! I do a lot of computer analysis but I think spectating would be very helpful.
Kuroneko, thank you for replying to my question.
I personally like Shikenbisha because it is a comfortable reply to static rook openings, as I don't usually go for yagura;
also, I appreciate its defensive nature. additionally, sometimes I can give the opposing rook opening a shot, and that can prove to be an effective attack (when handled right)
have you given opposing rook a try?
you mentioned before about left side castles that "it is awkward to move the bishop out of the way". I'm wondering, have you tried boat or even snow roof castle? I would hope that you don't give up on static rook openings all together, they can be fun to keep the game fresh, that you usually go for ranging rook
You can't post in the forums yet. Play some games!